As France is a member of the EU, no additional documentation is required on most parcels, however, the rules may be different for exporters. Please ask our staff for up to date information.
Prohibited and Restricted Items
France has entry restrictions on a wide range of goods, for example:
- Coins that are current and legal tender in France, bank notes, and precious metals
- Asbestos
- Live trees
- Animal products originating outside an EU member state
- A variety of animal products such as fats, poultry, and beeswax, vegetable fats, and other foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco.
- Chemicals
- Narcotics
- Electrical items
- Toys
Please note this is not an exhaustive list. Here is some useful information.
As it is your own responsibility to check postal restrictions and prohibitions for your destination, please check up to date French customs information to ensure that the contents of your parcel will not be refused entry to France.
French Address Format
France has certain requirements for formatting your address which will help ensure smooth transit of your shipment. Addresses should be written in the following format:
M Francois GARNIER
3 Rue Isabey
Chateau de L’hers
31500 TOULOUSE
FRANCE
- Madame, Monsieur, and Mademoiselle should be shortened to Mme, M, and Mlle.
- Surnames should be capitalised.
- Place the postcode before the city name on the same line.
- ‘France’ should also be capitalised.
Postcodes in France
French postcodes generally consist of 5 numerical digits, each representing a geographical area. Each digit of the postcode refers to a geographic area that helps to narrow down the addressee to a specific location, so it’s a good idea to ensure you have the correct postcode, as it helps to speed up the delivery process.
There is also an additional postcode system for recipients of large volumes of mail whereby they can receive their own unique postcode, and these organisations will have the word ‘CEDEX’ written in capitals after the town – don’t leave this out!
French Public Holidays
Around public holidays postal services may be disrupted. Unlike many other countries, in France, public holidays do not shift when they fall on the weekend.
- January 1st New Year’s Day (Nouvel An)
- Friday before Easter Good Friday (Vendredi saint)
(1st Sunday after the full Moon on/after March 21st)
- Monday after Easter Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
- May 1st Labour Day (Fête du Travail)
- May 8th Victory Day (Fête de la Victoire)
- 50 days after Easter Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
- July 14th Bastille Day (Fête nationale française)
- August 15th Assumption of Mary (Assomption)
- November 1st All Saints Day (Toussaint)
- November 11th Armistice Day (Armistice)
- December 25th Christmas Day (Noël)
The regions of Alsace and Moselle also observe two additional public holidays:
- 39 days after Easter Ascension Day (Ascension)
- December 26th St Stephen’s Day (Deuxième jour de Noël)